Ipswich: Third distraction burglary in a week prompts police warning

Elderly and vulnerable residents have been urged to take extra precautions following reports of a third distraction burglary in less than a week.

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The offender called at the home of an elderly many in Wallace Road, Ipswich and asked for a drink before stealing a quantity of cash when the victim left the room.

Ds Richard Prouse of Ipswich CID said it was “very concerning” that three distraction burglaries had taken place in such close succession.

“In each case, the victims have been vulnerable people and the offenders have clearly taken advantage of this to gain access to their properties and commit these offences,” he said.

“I would urge anyone who receives a visit from someone they do not know and are not expecting, to ensure that they ask for official ID before allowing them into their home.

“If you have any concerns at all, do not let them into your home or call the company they claim to be from.

“I would also ask that anyone with elderly friends or relatives passes on this advice to ensure that they are not targeted in this way.”

The suspect in this latest case is described as a white man in his 50s, less than 5ft 1ins tall and scruffy in appearance.

Police are linking this to two recent similar incidents in Ipswich.

On Saturday January 25 between 2pm and 6pm a man knocked at the door of an elderly woman in Cemetery Road, Ipswich.

The offender said he needed to check her oven and entered the property.

He looked at the oven and then left. Later that day, she realised that her purse containing an amount of cash and cards had been stolen. There is no description of the offender.

At around 4pm on Thursday 30th January, a man called at the home of an elderly lady in Suffolk Road, Ipswich and said he needed to read the gas and electricity meter. Once inside he stole the victim’s purse.

The suspect in this incident is described as a white man, around 5ft ins tall and of thin build.

He was aged around 40-50, he was clean-shaven and did not wear glasses. He was wearing a brown jacket and trousers.

A witness described seeing a man of ‘mixed race’, around 6ft tall, outside the property at the time of the incident who was wearing a blue tracksuit.

Anyone who witnessed any of the incidents mentioned or who has any information is asked to call Ds Richard Prouse at Ipswich CID on 101.

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1 comment

Always same areas . Old people . Scum of the earth
Cctv cameras every area.
Police on the streets .
we pay our taxes for ?,?

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